CrossCut Highlights

1
Cross-Cut Highlights

• Using Observatories, Technology, and Data
• Systems and Modeling
• Information Infrastructures

2
Using Observatories, Technology, and Data

• Abundance of NASA remote-sensing data
• Strong existing programs
• Value of images, visualizations, tools supporting
  education

3
NASA needs continuous focus on key issues

• (i) Internet access is controlled by school
  administrators NASA should not discount
  importance of resources available through
  alternate means e.g. TV, CD, paper - do not
  require real-time Internet access
• (ii) programs that involve students in data
  collection should be modular and flexible to fit
  a variety of curricula (preferably week long
  units rather than year long commitments)
• (iii) data-related resources need
• (a) accompanying tools that scaffold the usage by
  teachers and students
• (b) accompanying learning objectives that are
  scaled to the age group and sophistication of the
  user
• (c) appropriate connections to related tools such
  as grade appropriate mathematical modeling.

4

• Informal education is a venue to bring NASA
  data to adult learners. The needs of the adult
  learner should be taken into consideration when
  designing data-related products and programs.
• Importance of GIS applications of NASA data as
  community resources. An opportunity exists to
  make NASA data relevant to a wider audience
  appropriately scaffolded and supported through
  tools.
• Educational research opportunity exists in
  studying how novices and experts of all ages
  learn about the Earth using NASA data. How
  experts and novices learn new things from large
  data sets is not well understood. NASA data and
  resources can not only impact student learning of
  science, but also learning about student
  learning!

5
Systems and Modeling

• A systems approach and modeling are important
  both to Earth science research and to Earth
  system science education
• Unifying concepts across the sciences
• Use of models is ubiquitous in science education
• Value of a purposeful approach to systems
  thinking and modeling in the science classroom
• NASAs scientific and personnel assets position
  it to make a unique contribution to development
  of an understanding of systems and models in
  education.
• NASA data can be used by learners to drive and
  validate model results.
• Many models, with suitable simplifications and
  modifications to address curriculum standards,
  can be used to support inquiry-based learning of
  a broad spectrum of learners.

6
Information Infrastructures

• Provide education communities with ready access
  to Earth System Science resources.
• NASA produces very large geospatial data sets
  spanning the full spectrum of spatial and
  temporal scales.
• To be fully utilized by the education
  community, these resources must be easily
  accessible and provided in an easy-to-use format.
  Ongoing efforts include
• Evolution of ESEs data and information
  systems, including portals, gateways, and
  partnerships that facilitate educational access
  to ESE data
• Participation in national efforts to coordinate
  geospatial information principles and practices
  (interoperability, standards, metadata, etc.).
• Participation in NSF-led planning and
  development activities for Geoscience Education
  and Cyberinfrastructure, and collaboration with
  NSF digital libraries